Goodness Inside and Out at Hyatt Regency Aruba's ZoiA Spa

A visit to the spa can really bring a sense of rectitude to the body and mind -- especially in these tough early January weeks. What we really like about the Hyatt Regency Aruba's ZoiA Spa, though, is that this virtuous feeling extends to the surroundings.

Open since 2012, ZoiA Spa’s architecture and design incorporates sustainable products and materials throughout the entire space. Fabrics are made from recycled materials and decorations make use of cork, recycled glass tiles, and qurt -- a granite-like stone made from seashells. The hotel itself has continued the sustainable ethos by recently becoming the first high-rise on island to install solar panels to heat water.

The 5,200 square-foot ZoiA Spa, which translates as balance in Papiamento, houses eight treatment rooms and a spa menu that utilizes native ingredients including aloe. Aloe Aruba, the island’s only producer of aloe products, sells a signature line at the resort and an aloe garden is located in front of the spa.

Treatments are based on four key Caribbean elements – sun, sand, sea and love -- and the colors of the Aruban flag -- yellow, white, blue, and red. Sun, sand and sea are, of course, in plentiful supply on the Caribbean island, but for those lacking the final element, love (which the spa says represents devotion and commitment) the Aloe Devotion Facial is a soothing treatment that uses aloe, algae and lavender. Bonus: it helps to calm the skin when you've had a little too much of the first element, sun.

Facials and massages start at $80 for 30 minutes. Other services include an Aruba ZoiA Spirit Ritual, which includes a spiritual bath ($350 for two hours). Nightly rates at the hotel start at $365.